Recap: Cincinnati vs. Toledo

Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Gunner Kiel threw for 418 yards and six touchdowns in a spectacular Cincinnati debut to lead the Bearcats to a 58-34 season-opening victory over Toledo at Nippert Stadium.

Kiel, a Notre Dame transfer and one of the top quarterback recruits of the 2012 class, completed 25-of-37 passes and tied a Bearcats' single-game record for touchdown throws. Tony Pike also had six against Illinois in 2009.

Four of Kiel's TD strikes came during a first half in which Cincinnati (1-0) reached the end zone on each of its first five drives en route to building a 41-14 lead.

Mekale McKay also had a career night for the Bearcats, racking up 175 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine catches. Hosey Williams added 103 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Logan Woodside threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns -- including two to Alonzo Russell -- on a 27-of-40 completion rate for Toledo (1-2), which was coming off a loss to No. 20 Missouri.

Russell finished with 114 receiving yards, while Corey Jones had 11 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown for the Rockets.

The Bearcats roared out to a 13-0 advantage just over six minutes in on Kiel's scoring deliveries to McKay and Max Morrison, then went up by 20 points at the end of the first quarter after putting together an 8-play, 80-yard march capped by Tion Green's 4-yard run.

Toledo's Kishon Wilcher fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up Kiel's 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Moore on the initial play of the second quarter, and the Bearcats needed just three plays to reach the end zone on their next possession. Rod Moore's 2-yard run concluded the short series and made it a 34-0 differential with still more than 10 minutes left in the half.

Woodside's 38-yard touchdown connection with Russell gave Toledo some momentum entering the break, and the Rockets closed the gap further by outscoring Cincinnati by a 17-0 margin in the third quarter.

Woodside and Russell teamed up for another long score, this one a 54-yarder, and Jones hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass before Jeremiah Detmer's 23-yard field goal pulled Toledo within 41-31 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third.

Kiel gave Cincinnati some breathing room, though, by directing an 8-play, 75- yard drive early in the fourth quarter that culminated with an 18-yard touchdown throw to Alex Chisum.